Morphological Characteristics of the Blood Cells and Spermatozoa in Chinese Monals

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to investigate the morphological characteristics of blood cells and spermatozoa of Chinese monals (Lophophorus lhuysii) and to provide a basis for artificial insemination and physiological research. In this study, blood samples were collected by the wing vein puncture method, and semen was obtained by the massage technique. Blood cells were stained using Wright-Giemsa stain, while sperm were stained with Wright-Giemsa and modified Papanicolaou stain. The morphological and ultrastructural features of blood cells and sperm were observed using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that mature red blood cells of the Chinese monal are oval with a smooth surface, measuring 12.43±0.89μm in major axis length. Immature red blood cells are larger and spherical, with a major axis length of 10.79±0.91μm. Sperm are elongated and rod-shaped, featuring a flagellum, with an average total length of 63.28±1.74μm, including a head length of 16.98±0.41μm and a tail length of 46.30±1.74μm. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a rough sperm surface with clear distinctions between the acrosome, head, and flagellum. Optical microscopy also shows a certain proportion of abnormal spermatozoa. This study elucidates the size and structural characteristics of blood cells and sperm in the Chinese Monal, providing a foundational basis for research in hematophysiology, fertilization, and population breeding, and offers technical support for the construction of genetic resource banks and the expansion of artificial populations.